Method and apparatus for maintaining data coherency

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assuring data consistency in a data processing network including local and remote data storage controllers interconnected by independent communication paths. The remote storage controller or controllers normally act as a mirror for the local storage controller or controllers. If, for any reason, transfers over one of the independent communication paths is interrupted, transfers over all the independent communication paths to predefined devices in a group are suspended thereby assuring the consistency of the data at the remote storage controller or controllers. When the cause of the interruption has been corrected, the local storage controllers are able to transfer data modified since the suspension occurred to their corresponding remote storage controllers thereby to reestablish synchronism and consistency for the entire dataset.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThis invention generally relates to the storage of data for use in data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates to maintaining data integrity and consistency in redundant storage systems.2. Description of Related ArtNearly all data processing system users are concerned with maintaining back-up data in order to insure continued data processing operations should their data become lost, damaged or otherwise unusable. Such back-up operations can be achieved through a variety of procedures. In one approach, copies of data on a primary storage device are made on the same or other media such as magnetic tape to provide an historical backup. Typically, however, these systems require all other operations in the data processing system to terminate while the backup is underway.More recently disk redundancy has evolved as an alternative or complement to historical tape backups. Generally a redundant system uses two or more disk storage devices to s...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Typically, however, these systems require all other operations in the data processing system to terminate while the backup is underway.

Generally if a communications path comprising one or more communications links, fails (i.e., no data can be transferred over any of the communications links), the dataset remains in the remote storage facility, but no longer is updated.

This becomes particularly important when data must be recovered because without consistency or synchronism data in a dataset that has not yet reached the remote or backup facility may be lost.

In addition, even though other remote sites may remain in synchronism, the data across the remote storage facilities storing the dataset will no longer be consistent.

If this occurs, the remotely stored dataset becomes corrupted.

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